For the Al Omars, a local Syrian refugee family that lives in Lacombe, one of the hardest things for them to adjust to was the cold Canadian climate.

Another big adjustment, was being away from their family, especially when that family is still living in not ideal conditions.

Naeema Al Omar is mother to four kids, who range in age from 10 to 5, and she is working hard raising funds and awareness about her sister Khadija, a single mother of two who has to fend for herself in Beirut, Lebanon.

Naeema is hoping a GoFundMe page will help expedite the immigration process for her sister, something that can take 6 months to a year to complete. In the meantime, any extra money Naeema can send to Khadija goes a long way.

Naeema describes the situation her sister is living in Lebanon, where Naeema and her family lived for four years in a refugee camp before coming to Canada in 2016.

“She doesn’t have work and school for her kids, so sad. I send some money for her, but she needs for rent, for everything. She has a little room, she doesn’t have washroom, or kitchen, just the one room, no heat, no electricity sometimes. It’s very sad.”

While Naeema looks after her house and kids, her husband Bashar works at a chicken farm between Lacombe and Ponoka, a job he also had back in Lebanon.

She says she wants her sister to join her in Lacombe, where they were made to feel welcome ever since the moment they stepped off the plane.

“I know Lacombe, I like Lacombe, very quiet, and all the people in Lacombe know me. I like the people here, good people, and I have good neighbours, and a good community.”

You can click here to access their GoFundMe page.